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No. 41 September 27, 1992
Address: aceska at cue.bc.ca Victoria, B.C.
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BIODIVERSITY IN THE MANAGED LANDSCAPE: THEORY AND PRACTICE
CONFERENCE IN SACRAMENTO JULY 13-17, 1992 (PART 1 of 5)
From: Evelyn Hamilton <ehamilton at galaxy.gov.bc.ca>
I went to a conference titled "Biodiversity in the Managed
Landscape: theory an practice" on July 13-17 1992 in Sacramento
California, and offer these conclusions and highlights.
The conference was sponsored by a number of agencies
including the US Forest Service. The proceedings will be
published as a book.
My address is
Evelyn Hamilton
British Columbia Ministry of Forests
1450 Government Street
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3E7
Phone: (604) 387-3650
Fax: (604) 387-0046
ehamilton at galaxy.gov.bc.ca
and I am coordinating the B.C. Ministry of Forests biodiversity
research program.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
1. Rare and endangered species are the focus of most of the
ongoing research in the US. They anticipate the listing of
many more species. There is an effort to move from this
species based approach, which is entrenched in legislation,
to more of a "bioregional approach" which would involve
habitat rather than species protection.
2. In Canada we seem to have more opportunities to develop
appropriate management regimes for conservation of our native
biodiversity than is the case in many other jurisdictions.
Many other areas of the US have already experienced extensive
losses to native ecosystems (e.g. native grasslands) and are
focussing on very costly restoration activities.
3. There are some fundamental issues questions relating to moral
values and philosophies that have to be discussed before
societies' goals for management can be determined.
4. The need for fundamental social and institutional change was
raised repeatedly.
5. There are relatively few studies of landscape dynamics under-
way in adjacent areas. Most other landscape research projects
are focused on characterizing spatial patterning and fragmen-
tation and looking at wildlife response to landscape pattern
at different spatial scales.
I. OPENING ADDRESS
Developing an environmental vision
Douglas Wheeler, Secretary for Resources, State of California
California anticipates steady population growth and serious
pressure on it's biodiversity. They are looking at moving from a
species approach to a bioregional one - i.e. conservation of
different ecosystems and therefore habitats in the different
bioregions. There is a need for greater public involvement and
support.
II. KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Importance of conserving biodiversity
Thomas Lovejoy, Smithsonian Institute, Wash. D.C.
There are utilitarian, ethical, aesthetic, theological and
philosophical reasons for conserving biodiversity. The speaker
emphasized the value of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem
functioning and as an indicator of ecosystem stress. He made the
following points:
1. Some species may play a more important role in keeping the
ecosystems functioning, but it may be difficult to determine
the importance of a species a priori. An example is the rare
aquatic yeasts that are tolerant of and clean up mercury
contaminated water returning it to a condition where other
organisms can survive.
2. An important way that biodiversity will be contribute to
human welfare is through biotechnology. For example, heat
resistant enzymes that were needed for biotechnology applica-
tions were found in rare hot springs bacteria. There can be
great economic returns from this type of activity (e.g. 10
billion dollars a year in the US).